Two men indicted in connection with deadly Paducah crash
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — Two men have been indicted in connection with an April crash that led to a passenger’s death, according to the Paducah Police Department.
Officers responded around 8:48 p.m. April 24 to a multivehicle crash at Hinkleville Road and Friedman Lane.
Witnesses told investigators that a Hyundai Genesis driven by 27-year-old Hayden Lawson of Kevil and a Honda Civic driven by 34-year-old Corey McCauley of Paducah had been street racing before the crash. Police said investigators were unable to obtain a verified statement confirming the reported street racing that night.
Investigators determined the two vehicles were traveling east on Hinkleville Road at high speeds. The department’s Collision Reconstruction Team estimated Lawson was traveling about 80 mph and McCauley about 75 mph. The posted speed limit is 45 mph.
Police said a Honda HR-V was traveling through the intersection as a Cadillac Escalade waited to turn left onto Friedman Lane. After the Honda cleared the intersection, the Cadillac began turning.
Lawson’s Hyundai struck the Cadillac and then McCauley’s Honda, according to police. The impact caused the Hyundai and Cadillac to collide with the Honda HR-V. A Chrysler Pacifica was struck by debris.
Leanna Butler, 31, of Columbia, Missouri, was a passenger in Lawson’s vehicle. She suffered serious injuries and underwent surgery after the crash.
Butler died May 16 from complications related to the surgery, police said. Under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting standards, a death occurring within 30 days because of injuries or complications associated with a crash is attributed to that crash.
A McCracken County grand jury indicted Lawson on a murder charge and McCauley on a charge of complicity to murder in connection with Butler’s death.
The other drivers were identified as Tristan McDonald, 29, of Paducah; Lacy Depasquale, 32, of Paducah; and Susan Carey, 64, of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Anyone with information may contact Paducah police at 270-444-8550 or submit an anonymous tip through the department.
